Partnering Leadership

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Michael Thatcher shares insights from his extensive leadership experience spanning the nonprofit and technology sectors. As the CEO of Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the U.S., he provides an inside look at leading this influential organization through a period of rapid growth and digital transformation. Touching on topics from building trust with boards to measuring nonprofit impact, Michael Thatcher offers thoughtful perspectives on leadership. He discusses the journey of evolving Charity Navigator's rating system to provide more holistic assessments focused on transparency, accountability, and tangible outcomes. With over 200,000 charities now rated, he looks ahead to further enhancing evaluation methods and considering international expansion. Thatcher also explores trends in philanthropy and optimistically envisions greater collaboration between sectors to drive social impact.Actionable Takeaways:Learn how to gain board member trust as a new CEOHear how to motivate staff and maintain culture while transitioning to fully remote workDiscover effective strategies for measuring and improving nonprofit impact Learn the approach behind Charity Navigator's upgraded evaluation methods assessing transparency, responsibility, and outcomesGain insights on trends in philanthropy like impact investing and effective altruismUnderstand opportunities and ethical considerations for applying AI in the social sectorReferenced Partnering Leadership ConversationsAI Ethics, Leadership & Governance with Renee Cummings, Professor of Practice in Data Science at UVA Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, The Metaverse & AI's Impact on The Future of Work with Louis Rosenberg, AR/VR Pioneer & CEO Unanimous AI Connect with Michael ThatcherCharity Navigator Website Michael Thatcher on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership episode, host Mahan Tavakoli speaks with clarity expert Steve Woodruff about the importance of clear communication for leaders. As the torrent of digital information competes for our attention, Steve emphasizes how leaders must craft focused messages that cut through the noise. Drawing from decades of consulting experience, Steve shares the core principles from his book "The Point" on transmitting ideas effectively amidst the modern barrage of disruption. He outlines specific techniques like storytelling and analogies that make messages stick in the minds of listeners. With humor and humility, Steve advocates that the starting point begins with self-awareness – leaders first know their own strengths before trying to communicate them. The conversation revolves around neuroscience, explaining why unclear communication fails. Steve offers research on how our brains filter information, only latching onto what seems immediately relevant. This biological filtering system demands that leaders prioritize clarity, first having a clear point themselves. Steve provides thought-provoking ideas on how to sequence messages, using illustrations and examples so others can readily comprehend key concepts.Steve analyzes common communication pitfalls that prevent alignment and action. He shares wisdom on the clarity necessary for personal branding, settling on the right descriptive words and stories that capture individual uniqueness. Actionable Takeaways:You'll learn the 4 core rules of effective communication and how to apply them to leadership messaging and meetings Understand why you need analytical clarity about your own strengths and story before trying to communicate personal brandingLearn ways symbolic language through metaphors, analogies, and anecdotes can make messages more memorable Discover how sequencing information creates "brain-friendly" communications tuned to relevance Find out why specificity is key and how telling leadership stories gives life to ideasSee how constructive personal branding comes through identifying and settling on just a few core descriptive keywordsConnect with Steve WoodruffSteve Woodruff Website Steve Woodruff LinkedIn The Point: How to Win with Clarity-Fueled Communications Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership episode, host Mahan Tavakoli has an expansive dialogue on leadership and the future of work with serial entrepreneur and tech optimist Andy Tryba. As a 19x founder and CEO, Andy currently leads private equity firm Ionic Partners and two of its high-growth acquisitions, Gigster and Sparkrock. Andy previously built and led software juggernaut Think3, acquiring and optimizing 12 SaaS companies. He also founded one of the world's largest online talent marketplaces, Crossover, which grew to over $500 million in revenue before its acquisition.In addition, Andy served as an advisor to President Obama on spurring job creation and competitiveness. Key Insights and Actionable Takeaways: Learn Andy's tactics for optimizing asynchronous decision-making in remote environmentsHear Andy's perspective on the "human cloud" future of work and economic opportunityUnderstand why Andy sees global remote hiring as a gamechanger most companies fail to utilizeLearn why hybrid work models are often "the worst of both worlds" Discover Andy's approach to acquiring and scaling companies through private equityFind out why reading classics on relating well to people is an unexpected Andy leadership habit Get Andy's optimistic view that AI will augment rather than replace most knowledge worker rolesConnect with Andy TrybaAndy Tryba on X Andy Tryba LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David Marquet. David served as the commander of the US Navy nuclear submarine, USS Santa Fe. When he took over, he changed the command-and-control leadership style and empowered his crew to turn the lowest-performing sub into the best performer in the fleet. David Marquet shared leadership lessons from this experience, which he also wrote in his bestselling book Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. David Marquet also shared leadership insights from his latest book, Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't. In it, David Marquet highlights how choosing your words can dramatically improve organizational decision-making and execution.  Some Highlights:- David Marquet on becoming the commander of the lowest-performing submarine in the US Navy - Why it's not the lack of leadership but the wrong kind of leadership that results in poor team performance- David Marquet on moving beyond the traditional approach to leadership - How David Marquet shifted his own and his crew's mindset to transition from permission-based decision making to intent-based decision making- Why leadership in most organizations still operates using outdated mindsets and approaches- David Marquet on what all leaders can learn from the communications breakdowns on the El Farro - The importance of language in leading organizations to better decision making and execution in the businessBooks Mentioned:- Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders - L. David Marquet- Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't - L. David MarquetConnect with L. David Marquet:LinkedIn: David MarquetIntent-based Leadership InternationalWebsites: https://davidmarquet.com/https://intentbasedleadership.com/what-is-intent-based-leadership/YouTube:Leadership NudgesConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Hal Elrod, the international bestselling author of The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life, which has been translated into 37 languages and has sold over 2.5 million copies, brings his unique perspectives on establishing daily practices that foster personal growth and leadership excellence based on his recently updated and expanded edition of The Miracle Morning. Drawing on personal experiences overcoming adversity, including life-threatening events, Hal developed the acclaimed Miracle Morning methodology to optimize and actualize his full potential intentionally.   In this inspiring discussion, Hal shares the origins of Miracle Morning's "6 Saver" routine of silence, affirmation, visualization, exercise, reading, and writing. He offers compelling insights on leveraging these personal development pillars for individual growth to elevate teams and build organizational culture. From establishing new habits to sustainability tactics and the neuroscience validating this methodology, Hal provides an often overlooked formula to embody more empowered, activated life and leadership. With insightful examples, Hal translates proven self-optimization techniques into accessible daily actions that yield exponential dividends over time for conscious, purposeful leaders ready to partner at higher levels.Actionable Takeaways:- Hear Hal's incredible story of personal tragedy becoming a transformational purpose- Learn the "5 Minute Rule" for processing adversity and finding freedom  - Understand the power and common pitfalls of correctly practicing affirmations- Apply visualization rehearsals to ensure execution and peak performance - Realize how the Miracle Morning fuels individual and collective actualization- Discover principles and strategies to shift from morning reluctance to ritual advocate- Grasp how to customize and scaffold the 6 Saver practices for beginners to advanced- Utilize emotional optimization meditation for programmed, on-demand mindset activationRecommended ResourcesThe Miracle Morning Website The Miracle Morning (Updated and Expanded Edition): The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) (Miracle Morning Book Series)  Connect with Hal ElrodHal Elrod Website Hal Elrod LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Warren Berger. Warren is the author of multiple books on innovation and the power of questioning in leadership and everyday life. The conversation focused on Warren Berger's books A More Beautiful Question and The Book of Beautiful Questions. Warren shared thoughts on his study of the world's foremost innovators and creative thinkers, revealing what he has learned. Warren Berger also shared his insights into the natural tendency of questioning as a young child, the connection between curiosity and questioning, and why we suppress our questioning ability as we get older. Warren shared what leaders can do differently to encourage a culture of curiosity and tap into the power of inquiry. Finally, Warren Berger shared thoughts on developing the questioning skills critical for innovation, collaboration, and leading through uncertainty.   Some Highlights:- Why we become more reluctant to ask questions as we grow up - The external factors that shape our behavior and discourage us from asking questions- Warren Berger on the power of questioning and how to do it well  - Reasons why we tend to want leaders to have answers - The importance of questioning in the workplace - How leaders can encourage more effective questioning in the workplace  - Warren Berger on the relationship between curiosity and questioning - How to ask better questions and collaborate for innovation.   Referenced:Partnering Leadership conversation with David McRaney on How Minds Change Connect with Warren Berger: Warren Berger Website Warren Berger on LinkedIn A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas on Amazon The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Leidy Klotz, a professor at the University of Virginia appointed in the Schools of Engineering, Architecture, and Business and author of the book Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. Leidy Klotz shares some of the reasons why we typically look to add rather than consider subtraction when looking to solve problems and improve systems. Leidy Klotz also discusses how subtraction can benefit leaders of organizations and managers of teams. Finally, Leidy Klotz shares how we can ensure that we don't overlook the power of subtraction in our organizations and daily lives.    Some highlights:-Why Leidy Klotz left professional soccer to pursue his education and become a professor-Leidy Klotz on finding patterns and how they impact the world-Why do we typically miss subtraction and look first to addition-Leidy Klotz on the biological and social contributors to a desire to add -How organizations can benefit from the power of subtraction -How leaders can use subtraction during the decision-making process-Leidy Klotz on effectively achieving the organization's purpose through subtractionMentioned:-Annie Paul, author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain  Connect with Leidy Klotz:Leidy Klotz websiteSubtract: The Untapped Science of Less on AmazonLeidy Klotz on TwitterLeidy Klotz on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Conor Grennan, Dean of Students at NYU Stern and co-host of the AI Applied Podcast. Conor shares insider perspectives on where generative AI is headed and how organizations, teams, and professionals can fully tap the opportunities it provides.You’ll learn about the vital role change management plays in integrating generative AI across your company, how to prioritize AI fluency, govern usage responsibly, and stay on top of constant AI advancements. Conor makes a compelling case that developing AI capabilities needs to be urgent, providing tangible examples of techniques you can activate now. He sheds light on the sweeping impacts of AI on remaking talent strategies and even the nature of management roles themselves.Key lessons you’ll take away include how to:Lead change initiatives that adapt workflows, job roles, and organizational structures for the AI ageCreate training programs focused on boosting AI fluency while tied to employee productivity goalsInstall appropriate guardrails and oversight that enable beneficial experimentation but ensure ethical AI usePinpoint tasks and processes ripe for AI augmentation to accelerate valueContinually learn about the latest generative AI advances to get in front of possibilitiesConnect with Conor GrennanConor Grennan LinkedIn AI Applied Podcast Recommended EpisodesLeading Through The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence with Professor Ajay Agrawal Exploring AI's Impact on Business with Paul Daugherty: Accenture CTO & Co-author of Radically Human: How New Technology Is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future AI’s Impact on Marketing and the Future of Business with Paul Roetzer, Founder & CEO, Marketing AI Institute & Co-Author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talked with Dr. Timothy Clark, the founder and CEO of LeaderFactor and author of Four Stages of Psychological Safety. Dr. Clark has broken down the different stages to ensure psychological safety in teams.  Dr. Timothy Clark shares how teams can build on the understanding of each stages in order to boost psychological safety in the workplace.Some highlights:-Dr. Timothy Clark on why leaders cannot be neutral-The skills that leaders need to cultivate-Dr. Timothy Clark on his definition of psychological safety-The barriers to creating psychological safety in the workplace-Improving the learning process by disconnecting fear from failure-Dr. Timothy Clark on how leaders can ensure employee accountability-How to achieve the highest level of psychological safety by challenging and changing the status quo Also mentioned in this episode:Partnering Leadership podcast conversation with Dr. Michelle McQuaid, best-seller author (Listen to Dr. Michelle McQuaid’s episode here)The Four Stages of Psychological Safety Behavioral GuideFour Stages of Psychological Safety Book Connect with Dr. Timothy Clark:LeaderFactor Official WebsiteDr. Timothy Clark on LinkedInDr. Timothy Clark on TwitterConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli explores the concept of agility with his guest, Joshua Kerievsky, CEO of Industrial Logic and author of Joy of Agility: How to Solve Problems and Succeed Sooner. They discuss why agility is far more than speed and how leaders can hone the mindset and skillset of agility. Joshua Kerievsky provides a crisp definition of agility and shares why it highlights how agility is crucial in all aspects of business and life. He also shares balanced ways leaders can enable experimentation and learning without the hurry and pressure that leads to mistakes. Through sharing his agility mantras and powerful examples, Joshua Kerievsky makes agility accessible and practical for leaders across organizations.Actionable Takeaways:Hear how agility applies across industries and all of life. Learn the true meaning of agility beyond just speed.Understand balanced ways to experiment and adapt quickly.  Discover how to drive out toxic fear hindering your team.Master mantras like "Be quick, don't hurry" for business and life.Find out how psychological safety enables prudent risk-taking.Learn how Amazon's culture empowered an intern to override an executive.Appreciate the role leaders play in enabling organizational agility.Recommended ResourcesThe Joy of Agility by Joshua Kerievsky Testing Business Ideas by David J. Bland Connect with Joshua Kerievsky The Joy of Agility WebsiteIndustrial Logic Website Joshua Kerievksy LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website